land cleaing advice

[RMEADOWS]

I've about 6 acres to clear. lot of trees 1"-3". Most of the time I can drive through them with the bush hog. My problem comes in finding the deadfalls with the bush hog (I back in a lot as the vines are very thick).

I also have a lot of small "canals" for a lack of a better term going through this area as there is a stream on my property this all drains to.

My goal is to be able to run cattle and horses on my 20 acres, and would like to keep this 6 wooded, but usable (I'll post a few pics soon).

What advice would you give to a newbie?

Thanks!

 

[Argee]

I live in a heavy stand of white pine. When I cleared some of the land for the house and shop I had the luxury of using my uncle and his skid steer loader. I'd limb them up about 6 feet with the chain saw and he would come in with the loader and raise the bucket and push them out, roots and all. Then he would get the root mass in the bucket and push it over to the brush pile. Had some hellatious bond fires for a year or so.

When it came time to clear the pasture, the loader was broken. So I took my trusty old Ford F250 and 25' of logging chain with a slip hook on one end and a grab hook on the other end. I'd wrap the slip hook end around the trunk about 10 feet up and the other end around the hitch ball. Put her in creeper and go for broke. When I'd get to the end of the slack the tree would either pull out or bend down to the ground. I'd get another bite and finish the job. Worked good on trees up to 6". One day I hooked onto one that was about 8" and picked the rear of the truck about three foot in the air and of course I got up close and personal with the steering wheel and windshield./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif I parked the truck, got out my chainsaw and brought it down, went in the house and called the local dozer guy. I needed some grading done anyway and he made short order of about that one and twenty other trees for me. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I can't believe I'm telling this story to everyone. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif